In this March 2 photo, Myo Min Htet, left, walks with Tin Ko Ko, during their 'wedding' reception at Excel Tower in Yangon, Myanmar. Ten years after they fell in love and moved in together, Tin Ko Ko, 38, and Myo Min Htet, 28, tied the knot. They became Myanmar's first gay couple to hold a public relationship ceremony.

In this March 2 photo, Myo Min Htet, left, walks with Tin Ko Ko, during their 'wedding' reception at Excel Tower in Yangon, Myanmar. Ten years after they fell in love and moved in together, Tin Ko Ko, 38, and Myo Min Htet, 28, tied the knot. They became Myanmar's first gay couple to hold a public relationship ceremony.

In Buddhist-majority Myanmar, gay relationships are still considered taboo. Same-sex marriages or civil unions, whether performed in another country or inside Myanmar, aren't recognized by the government, and homosexuality is effectively criminalized in the country under section 377 of the penal code, which outlaws "unnatural sex acts".

In Buddhist-majority Myanmar, gay relationships are still considered taboo. Same-sex marriages or civil unions, whether performed in another country or inside Myanmar, aren't recognized by the government, and homosexuality is effectively criminalized in the country under section 377 of the penal code, which outlaws "unnatural sex acts".

The couple initially feared that protesters might crash their ceremony and try to stop it, but said in interviews with Myanmar media that the opportunity to publicly declare their commitment to each other outweighed their concerns.

The couple initially feared that protesters might crash their ceremony and try to stop it, but said in interviews with Myanmar media that the opportunity to publicly declare their commitment to each other outweighed their concerns.

Tin Ko Ko, right, and Myo Min Htet, left, pour champagne at their reception. Both are wearing the formal version of the traditional ethnic dress in Myanmar, matching red silk
complete with a , a Burmese turban.

Tin Ko Ko, right, and Myo Min Htet, left, pour champagne at their reception. Both are wearing the formal version of the traditional ethnic dress in Myanmar, matching red silk
complete with a , a Burmese turban.

The couple says that they were initially rejected by family members, and faced money problems when they first started living together. But their love has won the support of friends and family, and of course many within Myanmar's LGBT community, which has become more visible since the country embarked on democratic reforms. The change of attitude has been driven more by expatriates coming to the country, rather than government-led legal protections increasing for sexual minorities. Tin Ko Ko works for Kings and Queens, a community-based organization that works for LGBT rights, and Myo Min Htet works to promote LGBT health care.

The couple says that they were initially rejected by family members, and faced money problems when they first started living together. But their love has won the support of friends and family, and of course many within Myanmar's LGBT community, which has become more visible since the country embarked on democratic reforms. The change of attitude has been driven more by expatriates coming to the country, rather than government-led legal protections increasing for sexual minorities. Tin Ko Ko works for Kings and Queens, a community-based organization that works for LGBT rights, and Myo Min Htet works to promote LGBT health care.